HOW TO: fix a SIM Card Registration Failed Error

By Leigh PriceJune 29, 2012

SIM cards are the brains of our mobile phones, but just like you and I, they can sometimes get a little… dirty, and need a bit of a wipe down.

You may have encountered a SIM Card Registration Error on your mobile phone at some point. This usually means that the phone is having trouble reading information from your SIM card. Often this can happen simply from dirt from your pocket slowly working its way into your phone.

The solution is surprisingly low tech! Usually all that’s required is to turn off your phone, remove the SIM card from your device and wipe it down with a dry cloth. If you’re not sure what your SIM card looks like, look behind your phone battery for a small rectangular piece of plastic with a gold chip.

If that doesn’t fix the problem, there’s another low-tech solution which can help. Remove the SIM card again and try blowing some air into the area where your SIM card sits. If there’s some dust or debris in there, it can often help to clear it out.

If you’re still having no luck, it’s probably worth trying your SIM card in a friend’s mobile phone. This will help to work out if the problem lies with your mobile phone or your SIM card. If the SIM still doesn’t work in a mate’s phone, we can replace it for you. The quickest way to replace your SIM card is to visit a Telstra store – we’ll swap it on the spot.

Otherwise, if the problem seems to lie with your mobile phone, then you’ll need to arrange repairs. If you purchased your phone from Telstra, please call us on 125 111 or visit a Telstra store and we’ll be happy to help.

If you’re travelling overseas, we haven’t forgotten about you! We’ll do our best to help out if you call +61 439 152 111.